Chelsea's Drogba celebrating

Chelsea kept the top spot in a remarkable fashion, but in this crazy Premiership season can one team manage to be constant? 

Chelsea undoubtedly are the more likely team to do so. Their two losses came when players returned from international breaks. And with a team like Chelsea that means a lot of players are coming back from long travels. But the biggest issue in those matches wasn’t the jet lag or the fatigue, it was the midfield. In those two losses against Wigan and Aston Villa there was no Michael Ballack. Who would have thought that the German international would be so important to the team after a lack luster start a few years back. But there is no doubt Ballack is their core. He makes everyone around him better! Frank Lampard has NOT been performing to his level. Without Ballack Chelsea is lost. They better hope he doesn’t get injured. 

And transfer ban? Well it looks like Chelsea will be buying in January, but who needs a new player when you have a rejuvenated squad with injured players like Joe Cole and Alex coming back. The winger who made his return to the Premiership after almost a year on the sidelines has brought imagination to the Chelsea side. Cole has warranted man of the match accolades since he has been back. And he added the finishing touch Chelsea needed, they can actually score without Drogba. And then finally Chelsea will not be leaking easy goals anymore with Alex’s return. 

Alex is ultimately one of the best centre backs in the world. Carvalho has had his time, no his time should be on the bench. The back four are not the same with Carvalho. They don’t seem as strong and sometimes lack confidence with him partnering John Terry. So it’s easy, Alex plays Chelsea will stay on top easier;Carvalho plays then Chelsea have to sweat out close calls. 

Yes, Chelsea have the squad but they won’t when the African Cup of Nations comes a long. With Essien, Drogba, Kalou all out, it is going to be hard for the Londoners to keep their run going.  So they have to run the points now. And with the rest of the competition struggling-Liverpool losing to Fulham, and Manchester United dropping points – this may happen. 

So right now Chelsea need to play their own games. They are the best team on paper, but paper doesn’t prove anything. Their match against Manchester United this weekend will.If they do win against United, they will be 5 points clear and on their way to be Champions. No pressure blues.

So who were those teams again that wanted to break into the top four again? Everton, Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Manchester City right? Well Manchester City did play well, so we can take them seriously for a week. But Everton?! What happened?! Yes Arsenal played well and scored 6 goals on them, but you have to look at Everton. They lacked defense. And poor Aston Villa -their hopes keep getting smashed. Reo Coker wanting to leave;  Stuart Downing now out till November; top four finish, maybe a bit ambitious now.

And Tottenham…Yes yes they beat Liverpool, but that match was the worst case of football I ever saw. I honestly had to put duct tape on my eyes in order to stay awake. Apart from 10-15 minutes of good play, it looked like both teams didn’t want to be there. Liverpool is definitely missing Xabi Alonso. I don’t care what people think they know, if they looked at Liverpool, they had to notice that Torres wasn’t getting the ball and they lacked a fluidity from the midfield. Not even Steven Gerard could “grab the game from the scruff of the neck” as they say. (By the way Gerard was able to play after miraculously recovering from the injury that supposedly made him incapable of walking and took him out of the England match…)

The team that for me will do better than most people believe is Fulham. Watch out for them. They played well this week and are not a team to be taken lightly. American, Clint Dempsey, showed everyone what he can do in the Confederations Cup. And he will definitely play a part inFulham’s success. I see them to shock a few people this year and even sneak into UEFA.

Several people have come out and said that there are 7 or 8 teams that can compete for the top four position, citing Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham with the regular top four. But realistically the top four will be better. These teams will be fighting for the UEFA position rather than the Champions League. People who say that are hoping for a change probably won’t get one. Don’t get me wrong, these teams made excellent buys over the summer, but they do not have the experience, the squad size or managerial competence to get the extra mile they all need. Look at Manchester City, with all that money and potential, they still have a manager in Mark Hughes who has NO experience in high level competition. If they want to compete in the top four they need a manager. Big players will  not come to a club with a mediocre managerial staff. No matter how much money you throw at them – remember Kaka?  And then there is Aston Villa. In this case they have a manager, but where is the squad?

Yes the Premiership might be a bit more dramatic with closer matches, but it will be between Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal. Like it always is. And in my opinion the top two spots will be held by Liverpool and Chelsea.

Liverpool is a team that always brings hope every year of success. But every year they lose pointless games (remember that 2-0 loss at Anfield against Portsmouth, the one that no one knew what was happening) which ruins their chances. They signed two quality defensemen in Glen Johnson and Chris Mavinga. But they have seen Xabi Alonso leave. Many don’t see this as a big deal, but look back at the big matches. It isn’t the precious and untouchable Gerard who is going for the tackle or showing up, it was Alonso. Liverpool’s losing a great midfielder, who, lets face it, made Steven Gerard a player. Speaking of Gerard, the man himself is doubtful for Sunday’s match against Tottenham. Not a good start for a team with a lot of expectations.

And then there is Chelsea. A new manager and a new team spirit. If everyone ignored the first half of the Community Shield against Manchester United last week, Chelsea are definite contenders and favorites for this year’s trophy. Drogba is happy for once. Lets all rejoice at that, and even though the team showed some struggle conforming to the European 4-4-2 formation in last weekend’s match, the likes of Micheal Ballack, Essien, and Drogba will keep them together. Even Anelka looked like a brand new player. The only downside and weakness to this team is their age. This team is old compared to a lot of teams…but it’s experience right?

O Manchester United, how a few months changed you. Bye bye Cristiano Ronaldo, bye bye premiership title it seems. Manchester United, although showing some quality referee disrespecting, I mean quality play, will not have what it takes to win. With Ronaldo leaving who will they get to change a match? Wayne Rooney? He hardly scores. Micheal Owen…enough said.

That leaves Arsenal. What happened to this North London club? During this transfer season it seems nothing but disaster. Arsenal will be fighting alright, fighting to be in the top four. With Abedayor leaving, Arsenal is left with Arshavin and Fabregas. Both remarkable players in their own right -remember the Arshavin goal fest last season – but they are really the only thing going for Arsenal. The Gunners will have to hope for their youngsters to have a breakout season for anything better than fourth to happen. Well that or the other three clubs suffer major injuries.

We’ve covered the top four and who are the picks for the UEFA spot, now who do I predict to go down this year. Well the three teams who are saying hello to the premiership this season are Wolves, Burnley and Birmingham. Now usually we say hello to the new teams in August and wave them goodbye again in May. And in the case with Mick McCarthy’s Wolves, I say that is true. Harsh? Look at McCarthy’s track record. He led two teams to promotion to the Premiership and then led them right back now. Third time lucky? Yeah not likely. Other teams who look to be in trouble are Portsmouth, Hull and Stoke.

My table prediction is:

1. Chelsea
2. Liverpool
3. Manchester United
4. Arsenal
5. Manchester City
6. Everton
7. Aston Villa
8. Fulham
9. Tottenham
10. West Ham
11. Bolton
12. Sunderland
13. Blackburn
14. Wigan
15. Bolton
16. Burnley
17. Stoke
18. Wolves
19. Hull
20. Portsmouth